Tribes Hill man admits child rape

Thursday, July 31, 2014 - Updated: 10:16 AM

FONDA -- A Tribes Hill man admitted Wednesday he repeatedly raped a child, and conjured an Internet scheme in which he provided the child to get raped twice by another man.

David A. Andrews, 61, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Montgom-ery County Court to one count of first-degree rape, a felony. At sentencing he faces 19 years in prison with 10 years post release supervision. He will also have to register as a sex offender.

Andrews was arrested in April as a result of an investigation by the state Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Fonda. He was originally charged with felony counts of first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, predatory sexual assault, and a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Andrews committed sex crimes against a child less than 13 years old on multiple occasions over the course of several months.

Two weeks after Andrews' arrest, an Albany man was arrested and accused of raping the child twice after the encounters were arranged over the Internet.

Neal D. Sommers, 27, was charged with first-degree rape of a victim less than 13 years old, first-degree criminal sexual act, and predatory sexual assault against a child, all felonies. He also faces a misdemeanor count of committing an act in a manner injurious to a child.

"Mr. Andrews indicated he replied to an ad on Craigslist that Mr. [Neal] Sommers had posted," Assistant District Attorney Kelli McCoski said today.

Sommers also appeared in Montgomery County Court Wednesday, but McCoski said he rejected a deal offered to him that included a sentence of 14 years in prison.

McCoski said she could not talk about his case because it will now go before a grand jury.

"In light of the fact that the offer was not accepted, I withdrew it and the matter will be presented to the grand jury next week," McCoski said. "Sommer's attorney withdrew from counsel and new counsel has been assigned to him."

Both Andrews and Sommers remain in custody.

Presiding over the two appearances was Montgomery County Court Judge Felix Catena.